The sheer size of Etosha (23,000 square km) is
overwhelming. Gravel roads pass through vast open expanses with little more
than grass and low shrubs, to regions of dense trees and huge salt pans. Many
of the eastern regions were crawling with wildlife.
Looking at the map of Etosha, one is faced with a wide
selection of water holes (natural and man-made) to choose from. Distances are
great, and getting from one campsite to the next can be 150km of gravel roads.
Little white concrete pyramids mark the start of each road leading to another
vista or waterhole, and remind in red, "Stay in Your Car". In the
winter months, Etosha sees very little rain, and thus the land has dried up
leaving only a few small waterholes for the animals to choose from. As many of
the animals need to feed at the waterhole every day, the natural muddy ponds
serve as great concentrators for wildlife.
At first we stopped for every springbok, zebra, blue
wildebeast or gemsbok, but over time we became desensitized to these beautiful
creatures, instead focusing our sights on some of the harder-to-see varieties.
Unlike other parks, Etosha has a strict stay in-your-car rule. There are
roughly 100 lions scattered throughout the 23,000 square kilometers that make
up the park.
Calvin & Sharon
(to be
continued)
